|
—Swami Ramarajyam—
That was a small town. A road leading to the famous temple of Aparna Devi crossed the town. The pilgrims moved along this road throughout the year. Once I was staying with the owner of a shop situated in that town. He had a small house and the outer room of the house had been converted into a shop. On one side there was a big compound which was a part of the house. I noticed that while only a few customers were seen at other shops they crowded into his shop throughout the day. In the evening I said to him, "I was surprised to see a whole crowd of customers at your shop all day long but the other shops looked almost desolate."
He narrated the following incident in reply to what I had said:
"Till a few years ago only a few people used to visit my shop to buy things. As my income was very low, I was always worried. One day a saint came to my house. He was quite familiar with my family. I opened my heart to him and told him about my financial distress. He said, "You wish only to 'receive'. You don't want to 'give'." Elaborating his statement, he further said, "There is a well in your house. Make its cold water available to the passers-by. Open the gate of your compound and allow the pilgrims the use of it. Think again and again what you can give others out of your resources." I could not understand how this would help me to raise my income, but I had great reverence for the saint and I acted exactly in accordance with what he had said. The very next day, I made arrangements for supplying cold water free of charge in one corner of my shop. My wife, my son and myself supplied water to the pilgrims by turns. I placed cots under the trees in the compound. Tired pilgrims took rest on those cots. Gradually the number of pilgrims, who stayed in the compound began to increase. Those pilgrims would buy goods from my shop.
"A few days later, the saint came again, and said to me, "You can 'receive' only when you 'give'." At the moment, I have two helpers in my shop. I find it difficult to attend promptly to my very many customers. Today I am prosperous by the grace of God. I am never tired of 'giving'. I see God in those whom I give and I feel very happy."
Dear children, you can learn a lot from this story. You must 'give', if you wish to 'receive'. When you 'give', do not think about 'receiving'. Do not even think that somebody will say his thankyous to you. Forget your act of giving immediately after giving. You should always bear in mind that God has appeared in the forms of those whom you have given. Givers are never losers. In fact their 'giving' paves the way for 'receiving'. God provides them with whatever they need. Always remember this secret of 'receiving'.
|
